The True Christ

ORTHODOXY – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Part Twelve

 Benefits, Good Effects In A Christian Community

     When individuals change for the better they likely will gradually influence others to do the same; this could become the initial beginning of a community society formed of like-minded men.  In a society composed of those who practice righteousness and good behavior according to Christ’s laws.  Among the few first occurs homogeneity, second concord, third friendliness, fourth equality, fifth freedom. These attributes taken together define the well being of the resultant society. Such a community will by it nature be a free and good society. Brethren who are of the same mind or unanimous have a natural friendship toward each other, always seeking to do good to one another, being equal in honor nor will one brother exalt himself over another. Under such conditions genuine freedom exists for no brother will attempt to tyrannize another and seek to deprive him of his freedom, but will prefer to live with him in harmony and peace. Christian society or community alone is perfectly true because it abounds in all social attributes. All other societies are pseudo-societies and are by nature wicked, vicious and self-destructive.

     The rule of Christian society or community is that it works in accordance with Christian justice which prevails among its members. Christian society is righteousness and demands that each member conduct himself righteously towards the brethren of Christ, just as Christ did towards each one of us. By what He suffered, and in His great goodness Christ bestowed on each of us the greatest benefactions possible. 

     Thus each of us are obliged to return these benefactions with like deeds and sufferings to Christ in the person of His brethren. Christ will judge us in the last day as He said: “Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him. saying, Lord when did we see you hungry and fed you?  Or thirsty and gave you to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in? or naked and clothed you?  Or when did we see you sick or in prison and came and you?  And the King will answer, and say unto them, Amen, I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of these least of my brethren, you have done it to me. And these shall go away to everlasting punishment; but the righteous will go into everlasting life.” 

     Christian justice expects us to do good to all the brethren of Christ, just as each of us enjoys the  goodness of Christ. Remember, insofar as we have done it to the brethren of Christ, we do it to Christ and failing to do good to one’s benefactor is an injustice. That is why they are called just who do good to Christ in the person of His brethren, and unjust those who slight them. But who are the brethren of Christ that are under the protection of Christian justice? There are some who erroneously say that it is the poverty-stricken persons and beggars of the streets, which refer to the words of Christ, but this is not so, for Christ never suggested that such persons were His brethren and equal with His disciples.

     He clearly identified the identity of His brethren while he was teaching in a certain house. "At that time, disciples came and informed Christ that His Mother and brethren were outside waiting to see Him. Here is the Scriptural account:  “Your mother and your brethren stand outside desiring to see you. And He answered  and said unto them: My mother and brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.”  And the will of the Father is this: That people recognize Christ  as His beloved Son and listen to His voice.  According to this condition all who keep the fundamental law of the Church, whether rich or poor, all being members of the Christian society who believe in Christ hearken to His words and do them are brethren of Christ. And everyone that wishes to listen to Christ is told by Him: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of these my brethren you did it to me." It is a false teaching, contradicting the teaching of  Christ helped by all who claims, that all men in the word are equal brothers.  

     In a Christian society or community, all members are equal with one another, and the first thing necessary in such a community is to satisfy the physical needs of all its members that there will be none of them in want of anything. Everyone will work not only to take care of himself but also to help the brethren where necessary.  The Lord himself will also add His  blessings to such work by increasing the supplies available to the community. Owing to accidents such as wrecks, fires, diseases, deaths of relatives or acquaintances and the like, during such times who among the well-to-do will scornfully tolerate seeing in their brethren, Christ hungry or thirsty, naked or suffering any other such ill? All will hasten gladly and eagerly to take care of Christ in the person of His suffering brother. In doing good they will be grateful to the one they have favored with an opportunity to do good to Christ in the person of His brethren.

     No one will tolerate seeing Christ hungry or thirsty or naked or suffering or any other such ill. Christian justice does not tolerate, some who wallow in luxury while others are in need, but it wishes all to be in self-sufficiency. It attains this aim, first by obliging all Christians to be industrious and sober, second, the well-to-do should help out the needy, not under compulsion, but out of love for Christ and His brethren. A rich Christian will not use his wealth for the purpose of illicit pleasures and revels, because a Christian life finds true pleasure and delight in the Lord and the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, after supplying his own needs according to what is just and proper, he will give his surplus towards the deficiency of other, that there might be equality in all things amongst all.  All the brethren, seeing these actions, will rejoice and glorify God who inspires them.